REGULATIONS 



FOR THE 


RECRUITING SERVICE 


OF THE 



ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES; 


Revised and Amended. 


WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant-General’s Office, 

Washington, February, 1847, 


WASHINGTON: 

PRINTED BY C. ALEXANDER 

1847. 




















































































































4 


REGULATIONS 


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FOR THE 


RECRUITING SERVICE 


OF THE 


ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES; 


Revised and Amended. 


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WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant-General’s Office, 

Washington , February, 1847. 




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WASHINGTON: 

PRINTED BY C. ALEXANDER. 

1847. 


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RECRUITING SERVICE. 


1.. ..The recruiting service will be regulated at General Head- 
Quarters. 

2.. . .Such number of field olficers as the service may require, will 
be selected to conduct the general recruiting of the army; all officers 
assigned to this duty will report to them for orders and instructions, 
according to the district to which they may be respectively attached. 

3.. . .Selections for the recruiting service will be made without 
reference to the roster. The requisite number of officers will be de¬ 
termined at General Head-Quarters, and announced in general orders. 
The Captains and subalterns, for recruiting rendezvous, will be se¬ 
lected by the Colonels of regiments, unless otherwise directed. Offi¬ 
cers on the general recruiting service are not to be ordered on any 
other duty, except by orders from General Head-Quarters. 

DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENTS. 

4.. .. As soon as the recruiting stations are designated, the super¬ 
intendents w 7 ill notify the Assistant Commissaries of Subsistence at 
the military posts nearest to their recruiting stations, to supply rations, 
and will make requisitions for funds on the Adjutant-General, and for 
clothing, camp-equipage, arms and accoutrements, on the several de¬ 
partments to which these supplies appertain ; forwarding their requi¬ 
sitions through the Adjutant-General. 

5.. ..Funds will be transmitted, direct to each recruiting officer, 
on the monthly estimates of the superintendents. After the first re¬ 
mittance, estimates, based on the monthly expenditures at each sta¬ 
tion, are to be transmitted by the several recruiting officers, at the 



RECRUITING SERVICE. 


4 

close of the month, to their respective superintendents. Clothing, 
camp-equipage, arms, and accoutrements, will also be forwarded 
direct to each recruiting officer. 

6... .Estimates will be made monthly, embracing all the officers 
who may require funds. They will be sent without a letter of trans¬ 
mittal, in the following form: 


Estimate of Recruiting Funds required for the 

during the month of 18 


Names. 

Rauk. 

Regiment. 

Station. 

Amount ex¬ 
pended last 
month. 

Amount 
on hand. 

Amount 

required. 

Remarks. 

9 

cts. 

9 

cts. 

9 

cts. 












Total amount required. 





Superintendent. 

7-The superintendent will transmit to the Adjutant-General, 

monthly returns of recruits, and of the recruiting parties under his 
superintendence, with a record of the names, the dates and places of 



































RECRUITING SERVICE. 


5 


all transfers, discharges, deaths, desertions, and apprehensions, during 
the month; to be accompanied with the enlistment of each recruit 
enlisted within the month. 

8.. ..The superintendent, when furnished with funds, will trans¬ 
mit monthly abstracts of contingent expenses to the Second Auditor, 
to be forwarded within three days after the expiration of each month. 
Also, to the proper departments, quarterly returns of such public pro¬ 
perty as may be in his possession. 

9.. . .Whenever, in his opinion, the good of the service requires that 
the recruits, or any part of them, should be sent to regiments, the super¬ 
intendent will report to the Adjutant-General for instructions in refer¬ 
ence thereto. 

10.. . .Whenever recruits are to be sent from a depot or rendezvous, 
to a regiment or post, a separate muster and descriptive roll , and a separ¬ 
ate account of clothing of each detachment, will be placed in the hands 
of the officer assigned to the command of such detachment. A duplicate 
of the muster and desci'iptive toll will, at the same time, be forwarded 
to the Adjutant-General, by the superintendent, who will note on it 
the names of all the officers with the detachment, and the day of its 
departure from the depot or rendezvous. 

11.. . .The superintendent will report all commissioned or non-com¬ 
missioned officers who may be incapable, or negligent, or unsuccessful 
in the discharge of their functions. In the last case, (where the party 
does not succeed in getting recruits from any cause other than the 
fault of the officer) he will immediately recommend the transfer of the 
party to some station where the chance of success may be greater. 

12.. . .Tours of inspection by superintendents will be made only on 
instructions from General Head Quarters; nor will officers on the re¬ 
cruiting service be sent from place to place without orders from the 
same source. No expenses of transportation of officers will be admitted 
that do not arise from orders emanating from general head quarters, ex¬ 
cept they be required to visit branch, or auxiliary rendezvous under 
their charge, when they will be allowed the actual expenses incurred. 

DUTIES OF RECRUITING OFFICERS. 

13.. . .Success in obtaining recruits depends much on the activity* 
zeal, and personal attention of recruiting officers. The cultivation of 


6 


RECRUITING SERVICE. 


a good understanding with the people of Ihe town, village, or neigh¬ 
borhood, on their part, may tend much to advance the interests of the 
service, and often be the means of procuring good men; when a dis¬ 
tant deportment, a frigid, unbecoming hauteur, will not only repel the 
thinking and worthy part of the community, but frequently defeat the 
very object for which an officer may have established his party in the 
place. 

14.. ..The magistrate employed to swear in the recruits may, if 
treated with due respect and confidence, be often instrumental in dis¬ 
covering the true character of those who may propose to enlist. It 
would, then, be well to ask his opinion and advice as to the propriety 
of enlisting any individual brought before him to be sworn in. If it be 
generally known around the country that the enlistment is on fair 
terms ; that the pay is sufficient to induce respectable young men to 
enter the service, and that none others will be received, the character 
of the army will be held in due estimation, and the objections to join it 
will, in a great measure, be removed. 

15.. . .It is in the power of every recruiting officer to make his party 
respectable and respected. He must, in his own person, set an exam¬ 
ple of that courteous and moral deportment which ought ever to char¬ 
acterize military men. If the recruits are disposed to be troublesome 
to the neighborhood, he must make it his duty to suppress every irregu-* 
larity, and correct the disorderly, using first mild admonitions, which, 
if seasonably resorted to, will generally produce the desired effect. No 
instance of impropriety should go unnoticed. 

16.. . .The personal appearance of the men is highly important. The 
recruiting officer will give his particular attention to this subject. He 
will see that the men under his command are neat in their appearance, 
and that they are made to wear their military dress in a becoming man¬ 
ner, especially when permitted to go abroad. 

17.. . .Recruiting officers will be careful not to allow any man to be 
deceived or inveigled into the service by the tricks or false representa¬ 
tions of the soldiers or non-commissioned officers of their parties. The 
nature of the service, the length of the terra, the pay, clothing, rations, 
&nd other allowances to which a soldier is entitled by law, must be fully 


RECRUITING SERVICE. 


7 


feet forth and explained to every man before he signs the enlistment; 
and it will be proper, at the same time, to caution him to consider well 
before he enters into the contract with the Government, as no man is 
wanted who does not come voluntarily to the standard of his country 
If very young men present themselves, they are to be treated with 
great candor : the names and residences of their parents or guardians, 
if they have any, must be ascertained, and their friends must be inform¬ 
ed of their wishes to enlist, that they may make their objections, or 
give their consent. 

18.. . .After a man has been thus treated, and is willing to enlist, he 
may be allowed twenty-four hours to consider on the subject; the oath 
is, therefore, not to be administered to him until after that time, or 
even after two days, if the officer thinks he is not yet settled in his 
mind as to becoming a soldier; and if the recruit should see proper to 
cancel his engagement previously to taking the oath, he shall be at 
liberty to do so. (See the 10th Article of War, for the form of oath, 
and the persons authorized to administer it.) 

19.. . .These instructions are thus particular, that the officers inter¬ 
ested may know that it is not desirable to fill the ranks, unless it can 
be done fairly and honorably, and with men of suitable character. 

20.. . .All free white male persons, above the age of 18, and under 
35 years, being at least 5 feet 3 inches high, who are effective, able- 
bodied, sober, free from disease, and who have a competent knowledge 
of the English language, may be enlisted. This regulation, so far as 
it respects the height and age of the recruit, shall not extend to musi¬ 
cians, or to soldiers who may “ re-enlist” into the service, or have ser¬ 
ved honestly and faithfully a previous enlistment in the army. 

21.. . .Recruiting officers must be very particular in ascertaining the 
true age of a recruit. They are not always to take his word, but are 
to rely on their own judgment for the ascertainment of his probable, if 
not actual age. 

22.. . .No person under the age of 21 years is to be enlisted without 
the written consent of his parent, guardian, or master, if any he have. 

23.. . .Before a minor, as such, can be enlisted, the written consent 
of his parent, guardian, or master, must be first obtained, and append* 


RECRUITING SERVICE. 


8 

ed to the enlistment. If the minor assert that he has no parent, guar¬ 
dian, or master, the recruiting officer, in order to prevent imposition 
on the public, as well as to guard himself against the penalty of the 
law, shall procure the best authentication of the fact, and will append 
to the enlistment a certificate in the following form: 

“I certify that the within named recruit-, being a minor, 

has been carefully questioned by me, relative to his history, parentage, 
and age, and that he affirms he has neither parent, guardian, nor master, 
and that his age as recorded in his enlistment is truly given. 

“ I further certify, that 1 have also made diligent enquiry in the 
neighborhood respecting the said minor, and that, in accepting him as 
a good recruit, lawfully enlisted, I have no reason to suppose that his 
statement is not true.” 


Recruiting Officer. 

24.. ..No man having a wife or children shall be enlisted in time 
of peace , without special authority obtained from General Head- 
Quarters, through the superintendent. This rule is not to apply to 
soldiers who “re-enlist.” 

25.. . .It is the duty of the recruiting officer to be always present 
at the examination of the recruits, and to see that it be conducted in 
strict conformity with the regulations. None but men of good 
character, sound in body and mind, of good appearance, well formed, 
and fit, in every particular , to perform the duties of a soldier, will be 
received, The idle dependants of respectable connexions will be re¬ 
fused, as they become troublesome by applications for discharge, and 
are generally the least efficient soldiers. 

26.. . .Enlistments must, in all cases, be taken in duplicate, one 
of which the recruiting officer will transmit to the superintendent, 
for the Adjutant General; the other he will forward direct to the 
Second Auditor of the Treasury, as a voucher in the settlement of 
his accounts. The enlistments will be filled up in a fair and legible 
hand. The real name of the recruit must be ascertained; correctly 






RECRUITING SERVICE. 


11 


recruits arising before a contract can be made, or in cases when con¬ 
tracts cannot be made with advantage to the service, will be passed 
after being approved by the Commissary General of Subsistence. 

36.. . .Temporary or sub-contracts will be made at the branch-ren¬ 
dezvous, and the contractor for the principal station will pay the ac¬ 
counts of the sub-contractor when supported by a proper abstract of 
issues from the recruiting officer, and include the amount in his ac¬ 
count. 

37.. ..The convenience and economy of the service may some¬ 
times, as at temporary or branch-rendezvous , require that a contract 
should be made for board and lodging, instead of rations in kind, &.C.; 
but in no case will a higher rate than 40 cents a day for each man be 
sanctioned. 

38.. . .Issues will be made, or board furnished, (as the case may 
be,) on regular provision returns, specifying the number of men, and 
days and dates. A ration in kind may be allowed to one laundress at 
each principal rendezvous. The contractor will forward his accounts 
either monthly or quarterly to the Commissary General of Subsistence, 
{see form B,) and the amount properly due will be promptly remitted. 
This account will be supported by an abstract of issues, duly certified 
by the recruiting officer, {see form C.) 

39.. . .Should one of the party be detached on command where he 
cannot carry his rations in kind, they may be commuted at 75 cents 
per day. The account for commutation of rations, will state the 
nature and extent of the duty the soldier was ordered to perform, and 
the certificate of the recruiting officer is required that it was imprac¬ 
ticable for him to carry his rations in kind, {see form D.) The con¬ 
tractor will pay such accounts, and include them in his regular ac¬ 
count. 

40.. ..The expenses of advertising for proposals will be paid by 
the contractor, and the account will be supported by the certificate of 
the recruiting officer and a copy of the advertisement; and this pay¬ 
ment, like others, will be included in his general account. 

41.. ..The recruiting officer will be held responsible for the cor¬ 
rectness of all the accounts. If more convenient, he may himself pay 


12 


RECRUITING SERVICE. 


all expenses for subsisting or boarding his party; in which case he 
will estimate for funds on the Subsistence Department, pay the ac¬ 
counts supported by proper abstracts, ( see par. 3S) and render his 
account current quarterly, to the Commissary General of Subsistence. 

BOLLS, RETURNS, &C. 

42.. ..Recruiting officers in charge of rendezvous, will transmit to 
the proper officers the following rolls, returns, and documents: 

To the Adjutant General. 

43 ....A muster-roll of all enlisted men at the rendezvous, including 
the names of all who may have joined, died, deserted, been transfer¬ 
red or discharged, during the period embraced in the muster-roll. 

44.. .. Tri-monthly reports of the state of the recruiting service, ac¬ 
cording to the prescribed form. 

To the Superintendent. 

45 ....A monthly return of recruits, and of the recruiting party, ac¬ 
companied with the enlistment of every recruit enlisted within the 
month. 

46.. . .Duplicate muster-rolls for pay of the permanent recruiting 
party, which may be sent direct to the nearest Paymaster, when au¬ 
thorized by the superintendent. 

47- Muster and descriptive-rolls, and an account of clothing, of 

every detachment of recruits, ordered to the principal dep6t. If the 
recruits be ordered to proceed from the rendezvous direct, to join any 
regiment or post, these rolls and accounts of clothing will be deliver¬ 
ed to the officer in command of the detachment, a duplicate of each 
muster and descriptive-roll, only, being then made and sent to the 
superintendent. 

To the Quartermaster General. 

4S- d quarterly return of clothing , of camp equipage, and of all 

public property in his charge; a copy of each to be sent to the super¬ 
intendent. 


RECRUITING SERVICE. 


9 


spelled, and written in the same way wherever it occurs; the Chris¬ 
tian name must not be abbreviated. Each enlistment will be en¬ 
dorsed as tollows : 

No. —. 

A- B- 

enlisted at 


January —, 184-, 

By Lt. C- D-, 

— Regiment of-. 

The number to correspond with the names alphabetically arranged. 

27.. . .Whenever a soldier re-enters the service, the officer who 
enlists him will endorse on the enlistment, next below his own name 
and regiment, “second (or third) enlistment,” as the case may be, to¬ 
gether with the name of the regiment and the letter of the company 
in which the soldier last served. This information the recruiting 
officer must obtain from the soldier’s discharge , which he should in 
all cases be required to exhibit. See 22d Art. of War. 

28.. . .The filling up of, and endorsement on, the enlistment, will 
be in the hand-writing of the recruiting officer, or done under his im¬ 
mediate inspection; as evidence of which, he will sign his name on 
the left margin. 

29.. . .Immediately after a man has enlisted, the recruiting officer will 
have his hair cut close to his head, and cause him to be well washed from 
head to foot; after which, he will have him dressed in the clothing 
furnished by Government, properly fitted to his person, and cause his 
citizen’s dress to be disposed of. No soldier is to be allowed to keep 
in his possession any article of clothing other than such as he receives 
from Government, and belong to his military character. 

30.. . .It is the duty of the recruiting officer to see that the quarters 
for the men are comfortable, and supplied wdthsuch conveniences and 
bedding as are allowed in barracks ; that the provisions are good, and 
regularly supplied; that they are properly cooked and econo¬ 
mized; and that there be regularity in the messes, and due decorum 
preserved at all times. Should the men be sick, it will be his partic* 

2 







10 


RECRUITING SERVICE. 


ular care to see that they are not neglected, but that every essential 
comfort is procured for them. By proper management, and economy, 
the rations allowed will often more than suffice, and the surplus may 
be sold, or commuted for money, to make a fund for the purchase of 
table furniture, vegetables, and other comforts for the recruits. For 
the accountability of this fund, the principles laid down under the 
head of Council of Administration—(General Regulations) will apply. 

31.. ..Every officer commanding a recruiting party where there 
is no Quartermaster, will procure the necessary transportation, for¬ 
age, fuel, straw, and stationery, taking the requisite vouchers; but 
no non-commissioned officer or soldier is to be allowed to become a 
contractor for the supplying of any article which may be required of 
the Quartermaster’s or Subsistence departments. 

32.. .. The necessary blank enlistments, muster-rolls, printed re¬ 
turns, and forms, will be furnished by the Adjutant-General, to all 
officers employed on the recruiting service, on their requisitions made 
direct to him: they are prohibited from using any other forms or 
blanks whatever. 

QUARTERING AND SUBSISTING RECRUITS. 

33.. . .Written contracts will be made by recruiting officers for the 
rent of a rendezvous upon the most reasonable terms possible. The 
rent will be paid from the recruiting funds, and the contract forwarded 
to the 2d Auditor, with the accounts required by paragraph 51. 

34.. . .When practicable, recruiting officers will obtain subsistence 
for their men, from military posts near their stations, (see par. 4.) 

35.. . .Written contracts will be made for the subsistence of the re¬ 
cruits, (see form A.,) due public notice being first given inviting propo¬ 
sals for furnishing complete rations, (or board, see par. 37.) The orig¬ 
inal advertisements, bids, contract and bond, will be forwarded to the 
Commissary General of Subsistence, and copies be kept for the use 
of the Recruiting Station. At temporary rendezvous, such adver¬ 
tisement will not be required, nor is it always practicable at the open¬ 
ing of a station. In such cases, the officer will make the best con¬ 
tract he can for the time being. All accounts for the subsistence of 


RECRUITING SERVICE. 


15 


60_In all cases of rejection , the reasons therefor will be stated in 

a special report to be made by the board, which, together with the 
Surgeon’s certificate of disability for service, will be forwarded to the 
Adjutant General, by the superintendent or commandant of the post, 
for decision at General Head-Quarters. If the recommendation of 
the board for the discharge of the recruit be approved, the authority 
therefor will be endorsed on the certificates, which will be sent back to 
be filled up and signed by the commanding officer, who will return 
the same to the Adjutant General’s Office. In all such cases the 
commanding officer will cause the articles of clothing, which may 
have been issued to the recruit, to be endorsed on the certificates of 
disability. 


BOARDS OF INSPECTORS. 

61.. . .Boards of Inspectors for the examination of recruits will be 
composed of the three senior officers present on duty in the line, and 
senior medical officer of the army present; and when organized atthe 
principal depot, the superintendent, or, in his absence, the command¬ 
ing officer, will preside : if at a military post, the commanding offi¬ 
cer will preside at the board of inspection. 

62.. . .Whenever a recruit i3 rejected, the board will report whether, 
in its opinion, the disability, or other cause of rejection, existed or 
originated before or after the date of his enlistment; and if the former, 
whether with due care and proper examination, such disability might 
not, in its opinion, have been discovered by the recruiting officer and 
examining Surgeon, at the time the recruit enlisted. 

63.. .. When a recruit is rejected and discharged inconsequence 
of the non-observance of the recruiting regulations by the recruiting 
officer and examining Surgeon, they shall be charged with the amount 
of clothing which the recruit, so rejected, may have received from 
the public, to be deducted out of the pay and emoluments of such 
officers. 

64.. .. As the decision of Boards of Inspectors may often involve 
the recruiting officers in pecuniary liabilities, by their being required 


18 


RECRUITING SERVICE. 


to refund to the United States the amount of any loss occasioned by 
the discharge of a rejected recruit, the board will, in all cases, make 
the proper discriminations, and always state whether the want of due 
examination at the time of enlistment, be attributable to the recruiting 
officer or examining Surgeon, or to both ; and, as far as may be practi¬ 
cable, to state the amount with which either ought, in its opinion, to 
be chargeable. 

RECRUITS SENT TO REGIMENTS. 

65.... An officer intrusted with the command of recruits ordered 
to regiments, will, on arriving at the place of destination, complete 
the muster and descriptive roll furnished him at the time of setting out, 
by recording the names of the recruits present, and by inscribing in 
the columns of remarks the time and place of any death, desertion, 
apprehension, or other casualty that may have occurred on the route, 
and present the same, properly signed, to the commanding officer of 
the regiment or post, together with the account of clothing issued to 
each recruit. He will furnish the Adjutant-General and the superin¬ 
tendent each, with a descriptive roll, and an account of clothing, of 
such men as may have deserted, died, or been left on the route, from 
any cause whatever. He will forward, in like manner, a special re - 
port of the execution of his orders, and will notice all circumstances 
worthy of remark which may have occurred on the march; he will 
also report the condition and strength of the detachment when turned 
over to the commanding officer, and the day of his arrival at the post. 

6G... .The “ original muster and descriptive roll” of every detach¬ 
ment, with remarks showing the final disposition of each recruit, and 
the regiment and letter of the company to which he may be assigned, 
will be signed by the commanding officer, and forwarded to the Ad¬ 
jutant-General. 

DEPOTS FOR COLLECTING AND INSTRUCTING RECRUITS. 

67-For the purpose of collecting and instructing the recruits en¬ 

listed at the several rendezvous, there will be established depots at 
convenient points. 


RECRUITING SERVICE. 


13 


To the Ordnance Department. 

49.. .../? quarterly return of arras, accoutrements, ammunition, and 
of all ordnance stores. 

To the Second Auditor. 

50-Recruiting accounts, and accounts current, monthly, accom¬ 

panied with one set of enlistments. 

51.. ..Abstract of contingent expenses for recruiting, monthly, to 
be forwarded within three days after the expiration of each month; 
copies of which will be transmitted to the superintendent. 

52.. .. A quarterly return of stationery, books, and such other prop¬ 
erty as may be purchased with the recruiting funds. 

DUTIES OF THE EXAMINING SURGEON. 

53.. . .Surgeons will attend at the rendezvous at least twice a day, 
at such hours as the recruiting officer shall establish. 

54.. . .Surgeons will be particularly attentive to the examination 
of recruits, and suffer no man to pass who has not, at his examina¬ 
tion, been stripped of all his clothes, in order to ascertain, as far as 
possible, that he has the perfect use of all his limbs ; that he has no 
tumors, ulcerated legs, ruptures, nor chronic cutaneous affection, nor 
other infirmity , which may render him unfit for the active duties 
of the field, or be the means of introducing disease into the army: 
And it shall be their duty to ascertain, as far as practicable, whether 
the recruit is an habitual drunkard, or subject to convulsions of any 
kind, or has received any contusions or wounds in the head which 
might produce occasional insanity. With any of these defects, the 
man must be refused, as being unfit for service. 

REGIMENTAL RECRUITING SERVICE. 

55.. . .Every Colonel of a regiment will endeavor to keep it up to 
its establishment; and, for that purpose, he will obtain the necessary 
funds, clothing, &c., by requisition on the Adjutant-General, Wash¬ 
ington. The regimental recruiting will be conducted by the com- 


RECRUITING SERVICE. 


U 

manders of regiments, in the manner prescribed for the superinten¬ 
dent of the general recruiting service. 

56.. .. At each station occupied by his regiment, or any part of it, 
the Colonel will designate a suitable officer to attend to the recruiting 
duties; which selection will not relieve such officer from his com¬ 
pany or other ordinary duties. The officer thus designated will be 
furnished with the necessary funds, clothing, and camp equipage, 
(when necessary,) in the manner prescribed for the officers on the 
general service; and he will, with the approbation of the commanding 
officer of the station, enlist all suitable men, and make all the dis¬ 
bursements incidental to such enlistments, rendering his accounts and 
returns in the manner prescribed for the general service. The 
Colonel will transmit to the Adjutant-General a monthly return of the 
recruits, with an enlistment of each man enlisted within the month. 

INSPECTION OF RECRUITS. 

57.. ..The superintendent or commanding officer will cause a 
minute and critical inspection to be made of every recruit received 
at the depot, two days after his arrival; and should any recruit be 
found unfit for service, or to have been enlisted contrary to law or 
regulations, he shall assemble a Board of Inspectors, to examine into 
the case. 

58.. . .Every detachment ordered from a depot to any regiment 
or post, shall immediately preceding its departure, be critically in¬ 
spected by the superintendent or commanding officer, and Surgeon; 
and, when necessary, a Board of Inspectors will be convened. 

59.. ..Every detachment of recruits received at a military post 
or station shall be carefully inspected by the commanding officer and 
Surgeon, on the third day after its arrival; and if, on such inspection, 
any recruit, in their opinion, be unsound or otherwise defective, in 
such degree as to disqualify him for the duties of a soldier, then a 
Board of Inspectors will be assembled to examine into, and report on 
the case. [See Nos. 61, 62, 6S, 64.] 



RECRUITING SERVICE. 


17 


68-To each dep6t there will be assigned a suitable number of 

oificers to command and instruct the recruits; and, when necessary, 
such number will be selected for the permanent party, as may be de¬ 
signated at General Head Quarters. The recruits are to be thoroughly 
inspected and examined, as directed in paragraphs 57 and 58. [See 
60 and 61.J 

6.9.. . .It will be determined at General Head Quarters what num¬ 
ber of recruits may be required for each arm and regiment, and on in¬ 
structions from the Adjutant General, they will be assigned accord¬ 
ingly. 

70.. . .The recruits are to be dressed in uniform according to their 
respective arms, and will be regularly mustered and inspected. They 
are to be well drilled in the infantry tactics, through the school of the 
soldier to that of the battalion; and in the exercises of field and garri¬ 
son pieces. Duty is to be done according to the strict rules of service, 
as set forth in the regulations. 

71.. . .The general superintendent will cause such of the recruits as 
are found to possess a natural talent for music, to be instructed, (be¬ 
sides in the drill of the soldier,) on the fife, bugle, and drum, and other 
military instruments; and boys of tw T elve years of age, and upwards, 
may, under his direction, be enlisted for this purpose. Regiments will 
be furnished with musicians from the depot on requisitions of the Col¬ 
onels, made from time to time, direct on the superintendent. 

72.. . .As it is desirable to give encouragement to the recruits, and 
hold out inducements to good conduct, the commanding officer of the 
depot may promote such of them to be lance-corporals and lance-ser¬ 
geants, as exhibit superior military tact and the requisite qualifications, 
not exceeding the proper proportion to the number of recruits at the 
depot. These appointments will be announced in orders in the usual 
way, and will be continued in force until they join their regiments, 
unless sooner revoked. No allowance of pay or emoluments is to be 
assigned to these appointments; they are only to be considered as re¬ 
commendations to the Captains of companies and Colonels of regiments, 
for the places in which they may have acted; they are nevertheless to 
be treated with all the respect, and to have all the authority, which 
may bslong to the stations of Sergeant and Corporal, 



18 


RECRUITING SERVICE. 


73.. . .Recruits are not to Be put to any labor or work which would 
interfere with their instruction, nor are they to be employed otherwise 
than as soldiers, in the regular duties of garrison or camp. 

74.. . .The Rules and Articles of War are to be read to the recruits 
every month, after the inspection; and so much thereof as relates to 
the duties of non-commissioned officers and soldiers, will be read to 
them every week. 

RECRUITS IN DEPOT AT MILITARY POSTS. 

75.. . .When recruits are received at a garrisoned post, the com¬ 
manding officer will place them under the charge of a commissioned 
officer, whose duty it will be to see that they are comfortably quarter¬ 
ed, kindly treated, and well taken care of; and that they are properly 
drilled and instructed in their duties as soldiers. They are not to be put 
on any fatigue duty or working parties, except for the ordinary police, 
and then only by regular detail, in common with the other men of the 
garrison. [See Nos. 57, 58, 60, 61.] 

76.. .. When recruits are ordered from a post, or attached to com¬ 
panies, the commanding officer will furnish the officer who may re¬ 
ceive the recruits with the proper descriptive rolls, accounts of cloth¬ 
ing, pay, &c. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

77-Recruiting parties are to be in their uniform dress. They will 

consist, as a general rule, each, of one commissioned officer, one non¬ 
commissioned officer, and two privates. The parties will be selected 
at the principal depots, and care must be taken that none but suitable 
men are sent upon this duty. 

78.. . .Recruiting parties shall, as far as possible be furnished with 
drummers and fifers from the principal dep6t. Where this may be im¬ 
practicable, and musicians have not been enlisted, the officers are 
authorized to engage a drummer and fifer, at a rate, for each, not ex¬ 
ceeding twelve dollars per month, and one ration per day, or commu¬ 
tation therefore at the contract price, 

79-The permanent parties at depots, and recruiting parties, will 


RECRUITING SERVICE. 


19 


be mustered, inspected, and paid, in the same manner as other sol¬ 
diers. Recruits will not be paid until they join their regiment or some 
station thereof; or until organized into companies at a dep6t of instruc¬ 
tion, and not in the latter case, without special authority, from the Ad¬ 
jutant-General’s office. [See No. G8.] 

80.. . .The bounty of twelve dollars will be paid to the recruit, one- 
half when he shall have been duly enlisted, the other after he shall 
have joined his regiment for duty. The advanced bounty paid by the 
recruiting officer, will be carefully noted on the descriptive roll. 

81.. . .Every enlisted man who maybe discharged from the army 
as a minor, shall forfeit the pay, clothing, bounty, and all allowances 
due at the time of discharge. 

82.. . .Every recruit found not to be an effective, able-bodied man, 
at the critical inspection made in conformity to paragraph 58, immedi¬ 
ately preceding his departure to join any regiment; or at the inspec¬ 
tion after his arrival at a military post or station, pursuant to para¬ 
graph 59, if sent direct from the rendezvous to his regiment, shall be 
discharged without pay, clothing, bounty, or other allowances. 

83.. . .Recruiting officers being competent to judge and determine 
whether their recruits be “ effective, able bodied citizens,” and in other 
respects be fit for the army, will not employ private physicians, without 
authority from the Adjutant General’s Office, for the special purpose of 
examining the recruits prior to their enlisting. If it be “ necessary ,” as 
in the case of sickness, to employ a physician, the recruiting officer 
must exercise a sound discretion, and determine according to circum¬ 
stances, whether it be most economical, and for the public interest to 
engage on reasonable terms, his services “ by special agreement,” for 
daily attendance; or by the month, in the mode pointed out in the re¬ 
gulations. If a physician be employed by the month, then the examin¬ 
ation of the recruits must be stated in the contract as part of his duty. 

84.. . .The instruction of the recruits will commence at the rendez¬ 
vous, from the moment of enlistment, as well to provide against the 
vice of idleness, as to qualify them to join some regiment. The Gen¬ 
eral Superintendent will see that all recruiting officers give particular 
attention to this subject. If there be no arms at the rendezvous, the 


RECRUITING SERVICE. 


20 

recruits will be thoroughly instructed in the school of the soldier with¬ 
out arms. In general, and under favorable circumstances, two months 
ought to be sufficient to make them acquainted with the first duties of 
police, and the schools of the soldier and company in infantry tactics. 

85.. .. Stationery will be purchased monthly or quarterly, as the 
interest of the service may require, and shall not exceed, at each inde¬ 
pendent recruiting station, twenty-four quires of paper per annum, 
with a due proportion of other stationery to every six quires, at the 
rate of twenty-four quills, half an ounce of w’afers, one paper of ink- 
powder, four ounces of sealing-wax, one quire of cartridge-paper, and 
one piece of tape. If necessary, an additional supply of one-fourth 
of these rates will be allowed to the recruiting officer having charge 
of one or more auxiliary rendezvous distant from his permanent sta¬ 
tion. At the principal dep6ts the allowance must be fixed by the 
wants of the public service. 

86.. .. Such blank books as may be necessary are allowed to the 
General Superintendent, and at permanent recruiting depots; also, 
one descriptive book for the register of recruits, at each permanent 
station. Blank books will be purchased by recruiting officers, under 
instructions from the superintendent. 

87.. . .The articles of furniture which may be absolutely necessary 
at any recruiting station, will be procured by the officer in charge of 
the rendezvous, on his special requisition, forwarded to the superin¬ 
tendent, for his consideration and authority ; and any article of furni¬ 
ture purchased without such authority previously obtained, will be 
charged to the personal account of the officer who makes the purchase. 
The superintendent may anticipate the wants of the service, and for¬ 
ward his instructions to the officer, in advance of the required requi¬ 
sition. 

88.. . .When a recruiting officer is relieved, the blanks, books and 
unexpended stationery, with all the other public property at the sta¬ 
tion, will be transferred to his successor, who will receipt for the same. 

89.. ..When a rendezvous is closed, the superintendent will give 
the necessary instructions for the safe-keeping or disposal of the pub¬ 
lic property, as circumstances may require. 


RECRUITING SERVICE. 21 

90... .Whenever an officer is relieved or withdrawn from the re¬ 
cruiting service, he will pay over the balance of any unexpended re¬ 
cruiting funds in his possession, to the officer appointed to succped 
him, or to the Paymaster, if no officer be so designated; and if there 
be no Paymaster or other proper officer convenient to receive such 
balance, the amount will be deposited to the credit of the Treasurer 
of the United States, in some bank in which the public moneys are 
kept. In either case, the officer will forward to the Second Auditor 
the evidence of the disposition he may make of the funds, and report 
the fact to the Adjutant-General and to the superintendent, or to his 
Colonel, if on regimental recruiting service. 

Bt Order: 





22 


RECRUITING SERVICE. 


FORM A. 

Articles of Agreement made and entered into this day 
of Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and lorty- , 

between , an officer in the United States Army, on the 

one part, and , of the county of , and State of , 

of the other part. 

This agreement witnesseth , that the said , for and on be¬ 
half of the United States of America, and the said heirs, 

executors, and administrators, hav r e covenanted and agreed, and by 
these presents do mutually covenant and agree, to and with each 
other, as follows, viz : 

First. That the said heirs, executors, and administra¬ 
tors, shall supply, or cause to be supplied and issued at all the 

rations, to consist of the articles hereinafter specified, that shall be re¬ 
quired for the use of the United States recruits, stationed at the place 
aforesaid, commencing on the day of one thousand eight 
hundred and forty- , and ending on the day of 

eighteen hundred and forty- , at the price of cents 
mills for each complete ration. 

Second. That the ration to be furnished by virtue of this contract, 
shall consist of the following articles, viz : One and a quarter pounds 
of fresh beef, or three-quarters of a pound of salted pork, eighteen 
ounces of bread or flour, and at the rate of eight quarts of beans or 
ten pounds of rice, six pounds of coffee, twelve pounds of sugar, four 
quarts of vinegar, one and a half pounds of tallow, or one pound of 
sperin candles, four pounds of soap and two quarts of salt to every 
hundred rations, or the contractor shall furnish the men with good and 
wholesome board and lodging at the option of the recruiting officer; 
and the recruiting party shall have the privilege of hanging out a flag 
from the place of rendezvous. 

Third. That fresh beef shall be issued at least twice in each week, 
if required by the commanding officer. 

Fourth . It is clearly understood, that the provisions stipulated to be 
furnished and delivered under this contract, shall be of ihe first quality. 

Fifth. Should any difficulty arise respecting the quality of the pro¬ 
visions stipulated to be delivered under this contract, then the com¬ 
manding officer is to appoint a disinterested person, to meet one of the 
same description, to be appointed by the contractor. These two, thus 
appointed, will have power to decide on the quality of the provisions ; 
but should they disagree, then a third person is to be chosen by the 
two already appointed, the whole to act under oath, and the opinion 
of the majority to be final in the case. 


Witness, 


THE UNITED STATES 


Recruiting service. 


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